286 COBNISH DEDICATIONS. 



"Kiss me, my child, your face proclaims your innocence." She 

 then privately informed the superior that her suspicions rested on 

 a bold, pert girl, who had already got into trouble about some 

 other matter. On investigation the stolen article was found in 

 the possession of her whom Itha had indicated. 



A widow named E,ethna lived somewhere in the plain of the 

 LifEey, near Kildare. She had a daughter in a condition of 

 chronic ill-health. She consulted her foster-son, S. Colman of 

 Oughval, and both agreed to ask Itha to cure the girl. On their 

 arrival at Killeedy, Itha was not a little embarassed by the 

 petition. She, however, extricated herself from the difficulty 

 with dexterity. She replied that, certainly, she could heal the 

 patient, if desired ; but informed the mother that the damnation 

 of her daughter was assured, were she restored to robust health, 

 whereas the girl was certain to inherit heaven if she continued 

 infirm. The choice was left to Hethna, who could hardly do other 

 than accept eternal blessedness with its concomitant disadvantage 

 in this life. By this means Itha was released from the risk of 

 attempting and failing in the attempt to work a miracle. 



One of her community deserted and wandered about the 

 coixntry, and finally became servant to a Druid in Connaught. 

 Itha did not forget the girl, she continued to be anxious about 

 her, and induced S. Brendan to find out where she was, and then 

 to induce the King of Connaught to effect her liberation. This 

 he did, and she received back with compassion the runaway 

 together with a child she had borne. It was by her advice that 

 Brendan took ship and sailed in quest of the Isles of the Blessed, 

 and- probably discovered Madeira and the Canaries ; and it was 

 she who recommended him, when about to undertake a second 

 voyage, to abandon the use of wickerwork boats covered with 

 hides, and to make vessels of oak plank. 



A hymn to the infant Jesus is attributed to her by the 

 Scholiast on the Felire of Oengus. It may be rendered thus : — 



" Jesuskin, whom I adore 

 Nursed by me in little cell, 

 Clerk may come with richest store, 

 I h9,ve Christ, and all is well, 



